Tulane vs Northwestern for communications: which is the stronger choice?

For communications specifically, Northwestern is the stronger option overall. Its School of Communication is one of the university’s signature divisions, with deep course offerings in areas like communication studies, theatre, performance studies, radio/television/film, and strong connections to journalism, media, and internships in the Chicago area. Tulane can still work well for a student interested in media, public relations, or interdisciplinary humanities and social science work, but communications is not as central to Tulane’s academic identity.

Northwestern makes the most sense for a student who wants communications to be a real academic home rather than just an interest area. You would be entering a school where communication is highly developed, visible across campus, and tied to both theory and professional pathways. That matters if you want flexibility to explore media, strategic communication, performance, storytelling, or adjacent fields while still staying inside a strong communications ecosystem.

It is also the better pick for someone who wants a lot of built-in industry access during college. Being near Chicago helps with internships, media exposure, alumni connections, and semester-time opportunities that are harder to match in a smaller communications setting.

Tulane fits a different kind of student. It is appealing if you want a lively campus culture, New Orleans as part of your college experience, and a broader liberal arts approach where communications-related interests might blend with political science, marketing, digital media, public health, or business. If your goal is not a pure communications path, but instead a wider college experience with room to shape your own lane, Tulane has real appeal.

The tradeoff is that Tulane is less likely to give you the same depth, concentration of faculty, or national visibility in communications itself. So if your question is which school is stronger for communications students, Northwestern has the clearer edge. Tulane becomes more compelling when the overall environment, city, and cross-disciplinary flexibility matter as much to you as the communications program itself.